Plasma Inter-Alpha-Trypsin Inhibitor Heavy Chains H3 and H4 Serve as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers in Human Colorectal Cancer

Table 2

Serum levels of biomarkers tested in CRC patients in relation to clinicopathological features of tumor.

Variable analyzed	No.	ITIH3 (μg/mL)	value	ITIH4 (μg/mL)	value
		Median (range)		Median (range)
Age			0.830		0.586
≤60	48	4.429 (2.152–8.170)		0.205 (0.110–0.592)
>60	53	4.370 (2.852–8.070)		0.213 (0.099–0.415)
Gender			0.133		0.574
Male	57	4.170 (2.152–8.170)		0.216 (0.106–0.592)
Female	44	4.577 (2.862–7.098)		0.203 (0.099–0.422)
Smoking			0.183		0.452
Yes	58	4.204 (2.162–8.170)		0.204 (0.103–0.592)
No	43	4.569 (2.152–8.070)		0.221 (0.099–0.409)
Alcohol			0.734		0.240
Yes	47	4.260 (2.152–8.170)		0.222 (0.103–0.592)
No	54	4.411 (2.352–7.098)		0.207 (0.099–0.421)
Tumor localization			0.771		0.446
Rectum	34	4.266 (2.152–8.170)		0.206 (0.106–0.429)
Colon	67	4.385 (2.162–8.070)		0.211 (0.099–0.592)
Tumor size			0.307		0.872
≤3 cm	45	4.576 (2.352–8.170)		0.210 (0.103–0.592)
>3 cm	56	4.204 (2.152–8.070)		0.212 (0.099–0.587)
Tumor stage (AJCC)			0.404		0.278
Stage I	10	4.473 (3.820–4.820)		0.185 (0.110–0.263)
Stage II	15	4.585 (3.788–8.170)		0.210 (0.127–0.315)
Stage III	19	4.207 (2.162–6.898)		0.213 (0.162–0.587)
Stage IV	57	4.219 (2.152–8.070)		0.219 (0.099–0.592)
Distant metastases			0.261		0.617
Nonmetastatic group	44	4.512 (2.162–8.170)		0.206 (0.110–0.587)
Metastatic group	57	4.219 (2.152–8.070)		0.219 (0.099–0.592)
MSI status			0.680		0.692
MSS	55	4.556 (2.162–8.070)		0.211 (0.099–0.592)
MSI-H	8	4.401 (2.852–5.265)		0.232 (0.127–0.409)
Unknown	38	4.177 (2.152–8.170)		0.207 (0.103–0.432)

: statistically significant. CRC: colorectal cancer; ITIH₃: inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H3; ITIH₄: inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4; MSI: microsatellite instability status; MSS: microsatellite stable; MSI-H: microsatellite instability status high.